Ex-cop approaches SC over protests near home

Pestered by frequent demonstrations and protest march by people around his home near Vidhan Sabha, a retired Rajasthan police chief has approached the Supreme Court to assert his right to have a peaceful living.

The demonstrators erected tents, shouted slogans and delivered speeches by indiscriminate use of loud-speakers. Much to his chagrin, they invariably eased themselves by making use of his compound walls and other nearby houses at any time.

Finding no end to his woes after authorities failed to act, Dr Balwant Singh, who retired as DGP of Rajasthan finally knocked the door of the apex court. A bench of justices F M I Kalifullah and A M Sapre took a sympathetic view of the precarious condition of the petitioner and reminded the government of its duty to ensure citizens kept on enjoying cherished rights, including a right to have peaceful living, guaranteed under the Constitution.

“Intervention of the court is called for at the instance of citizen when these rights are violated by fellow citizens or by any state agency,” the bench said.